Arsenal secured a vital first-leg advantage in their Champions League quarter-final tie against Sporting CP, thanks to a dramatic late goal from substitute Kai Havertz.
The German forward’s opportunistic finish past Rui Silva provided the Gunners with a narrow but significant 1-0 victory on the road.
Under pressure following back-to-back defeats for the first time this season, Mikel Arteta’s side faced an early scare.
Sporting’s Maxi Araújo rattled the crossbar after a perfectly timed through ball from Ousmane Diomande, reminding Arsenal of the threats that lurked on the counter.
Despite controlling possession in the opening stages, the visitors struggled to carve out clear-cut opportunities.
Noni Madueke came closest in the first half, hitting the bar directly from a corner.
Sporting remained dangerous on transitions, with Araújo again surging forward to set up Francisco Trincão, whose shot went narrowly wide.
Arsenal appeared to take the lead early in the second half through Martin Zubimendi, but the goal was chalked off for offside in the buildup involving Viktor Gyökeres.
As the match reached its final stages, Sporting pressed hard, but David Raya stood firm with several critical saves to deny the home side.
The breakthrough came late when Havertz, introduced as a substitute, poked the ball home, breaking the deadlock and giving Arsenal a crucial away goal ahead of the second leg at the Emirates Stadium.
The victory ends Arsenal’s two-game losing streak and provides a timely morale boost as they prepare to return to Premier League action against Bournemouth.
The narrow margin, however, means the tie remains finely poised, with Sporting still capable of overturning the deficit in London.
“This is a huge moment for the team,” Arteta said post-match.
“We showed patience and resilience, and Kai’s finish demonstrates the importance of having players who can make an impact off the bench.”
With the Champions League quarter-finals now underway, Arsenal will look to build on this slender advantage, knowing that every goal at home could be decisive in their quest for European glory.
